If you own an electric vehicle (EV), extending its range is key to enjoying long trips without the fear of running out of battery. As such, certain driving habits, regular upkeep, and smart charging strategies can vastly enhance the miles you can get on a full battery. Therefore, in this piece, we’ll explore various methods to increase your electric car’s range significantly.
Understanding the Factors that Affect Electric Car Range
There are some elements that determine the driving range of an electric car; among them are the driving manner, pace, climatic conditions, and the weight of the vehicle. A good understanding of how these elements are bound to affect your overall EV dependence will allow you to follow specific steps towards going lean, secure more rewarding EV utilization by maximizing each charge, and thus, be ready for your next trip.
Driving Style and Speed
How you drive can greatly influence the distance your electric flickers can cover. Moving at high speeds, accelerating rapidly, a lot of stop-and-go, and continually trying to keep up high speeds can exhaust your battery quickly. Drive smoothly and maintain a steady speed to make your EV range last longer. Another good idea is to slow down to a more typical speed, as moving too swiftly on a highway may lower your electric vehicle’s efficiency.
Weather Conditions
Your car can be really affected by the weather, specifically if it’s an electric vehicle. Cold weather can lower battery efficiency, and using the heater or AC can also drain it even more. But, there’s a way around this. You could condition your vehicle while it’s still charging, so you’re starting your car trip in a cozy cabin. This way, your car’s charge isn’t going towards temperature control while you’re driving it.
Vehicle Load
Consider the weight of your vehicle, including you and your passengers, because it affects your electric car’s range. If your car is heavier, the battery works harder and this might reduce the distance you can travel on one charge. If you want to go a longer distance, remove any heavy stuff not in use. It would help to lighten your vehicle.
Maintenance Tips for Maximizing Electric Car Range
Regular maintenance is crucial for the proper functioning of every electric vehicle and for the battery to be able to operate at its best. Here are some of the chief tip points to help you achieve the maximum range of your electric car.
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
For your car to work at its best, you need to maintain appropriate tire pressure. Truthfully, batteries struggle more when tires are not fully inflated, resulting in lower efficiency and shortened range. Frequent check-ups of the tire pressure and adjusting it according to the car maker’s guidelines will yield optimum performance.
Stay Up-to-Date with Software Updates
Electric cars often get ongoing software updates from makers. These updates can add new functions, improve performance, or upgrade the driving feel. If you know about these updates and keep track of them, you can use your battery more effectively. In turn, this can boost your electric vehicle’s driving distance. To make sure your car’s software is up-to-date, check with your dealership.
Regular Battery Health Checks
Think of an electric car like any other car. One important part is its battery’s health. A system that keeps track of the battery’s health and capacity is handy for spotting problems early. After a thorough check, you can tackle those problems. If you see a big decrease in power, it’s probably time for a pro to check your battery.
Smart Charging Practices for Maximizing Electric Car Range
How you power up your electric car can impact how far it goes. Using wise charging habits is key to making sure your battery works properly and endures long-term.
Avoid Frequent Fast Charging
Rapid power-up is handy and vital for extended journeys. The only hitch is it produces excess heat and, over time, harms the battery. The best way to juice up your electric vehicle is by using the Level 2 charger regularly, and saving speedy power-up for crises.
Charge to the Optimal Level
Charging your electric car battery to full capacity consistently can impact its endurance and travel range. It’s better to target a battery power between 20% and 80% for daily use. This habit can reduce battery strain and prevent energy loss. Also, if your EV has this function, you can program the charging to stop within this range automatically.
Charge During Off-Peak Hours
When you power up your EV during non-peak times, you not only cut down on electric bills but also lighten the burden on the grid, saving you additional funds in the process. Moreover, various utility firms often feature lower tariffs at these off-peak hours, enhancing the wisdom of charging your vehicle overnight. By simply having a strategy like this in place, you are indirectly helping by efficiently planning how to refill your electric car.
Planning Your Trips for Maximum Efficiency
Consideration should be given to planning your all trips in a manner that efficiency will be the paramount quality of the charging process. Planning smart trips for maximum range does require some input though:
Use Eco-Mode
The Eco or power-saving setting in numerous electric vehicles is crafted to shift the car’s configurations with the main goal being to enhance efficiency. By engaging this setting during your journeys, you can conserve energy and therefore extend your distance. When the vehicle operates in Eco-mode, it can diminish the usage of a select list of non-critical features like the climate system – the heater or air conditioner – with the aim to save energy.
Plan Your Route to Include Charging Stations
If you’re planning a lengthy road trip, it’s vital to map out potential charging stops. Doing so ensures you recharge at the right times, avoiding the hazard of a drained battery from lack of power. Tools such as the PlugShare app or your own vehicle’s navigation system can guide you to nearby charging centers. They also help you devise a route, mainly for this reason.
Conclusion
For complete use of your electric car’s mileage, careful driving, routine upkeep, and efficient charging habits are key. Simply tweaking how you drive and care for your EV can extend the kilometers in a single charge. This allows you to experience the non-range feature of electric automobiles more fully. Whether it’s a commute to your job or a trip to a national park, these suggestions will help you get the most out of each charge.
To see more information regarding electric vehicle effectiveness and servicing, please refer to our guide on electrical car batteries lifespans.